River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-04-07


The lady, she said, seemed distraits
and sad; she had heen weeping, and
would take nothing. The gentleman
was very polite and attentive, but not
sympathetic.
'.And the Sister," I asked, ..tho lady
who took her away-did she seem
kind?"
The woman shook her head and de-
precstingly raised the backs of her
hands. The young lady seemed terri
fed when she saw her, but the LADY,
had great power and persuaded her.
The gentleman said she must either
stay with him or go with her, and then
the young lady seemed very angry and
went away with the tall Sister.
s.What was the Sister like?"
"She was tall-very tall; like SO
many of the English women"
"Englishi'
"Ycs, certainly English; and very
handsome very pale faea and such
ewes! Never had she seen such eyes;
but they We're not good. those eyesl
All. what was the matter with mon
sieur?''
l started ard turned pale. What if
this Sister Of Mercy should be the Basil
isk2 1t must be so. put few ques-
tions which seemed to put it beyond
doubt.
And the carriage in which they
went away Pr
It was an ordinary carriage. She
had not taken any particular notice Of
it.
"And where had they gomez
She did not know. The lady had
given no directions. The driver seem
ca to know. for he drove off ut once.
l returned to the hotel, once more 4
prey to devouring anxiety. Shaw, too,
was much moved by this latest develop
ment lie begged me, however, TO sit
down and rest, and endeayor 10 COM
pose my mind.
mo- said. sit is impossible; /
must 20 out. 1t is the only resource l
have now. Unjust find Mary
"But," said he soothingly, '.you
can't expect to find her by walking
about the streets Of Antwerp at ran
DOM"
why not?" I said. 81 found
Plowitz by accident this morning l
may End Mary by accident this even
ing"
And out went.
As / pursued my vague guest, the
clear light that precedes sunset on a
windy evening brought every OBJ
ject in startling relief. The leaves
were flying and whirling around;
masses of clouds, amber and grey,
were confusedly rolling across the SKY;
the rocks were cawing about the tow
ers, and the strange music of the
chimes rang out fitfully upon the bat
Ting breezes. felt a sense of danger.
and, passing a shop where q large ar
raw of sticks caught m, eye.I stepped in
and purchased serviceable nfe-pre-
server. l wandered about for some
time aimlessly enough, but by degrees
| bent my steps in the direction of the
house whence Mary had been removed
bv the Basilisk. Two or three times
paced the street. hoping, it may be,
that some inspiration would draw Inc
in the direction which Mary had taken,
and then plunged into 4 labyrinth Of
narrow streets paved with cobble-
stones, ill-smelling, and framed by old
fashioned, and dilapidatcd houses.
The dusk was now rapidly falling,
though occasional CLEANS of red
light brought the outlines of the
gables into weird distinctness rs the
rack and vapours weird swept by
strong rush Of wind from the face of
the still glowing west.
In the gates of the courtyard by
which entrance was obtained to most
of the houses in this region, few
people here and there fingered pictur-
esque groups occasionally. homely and
honest folk, having a little gossip after
their DAVIS work, but more often i'll
croaking, understanding voice of an
old woman.
"a dix heures," said the Basilisk-
cd die hearcs,' repeated the other
voice in tone of malicious obsequious-
ness.
Then the majestic figure Of the Basil
isk again came out; looking supernat-
urally tall and imposing in the dark
robes and white head-gear of some re
ligious order. She was followed by
broad-shouldcrcd but bent old woman,
who nodded, and Icered, and rubbed
ner skinny hands together until Miss
Beaufoy had turned a neighboring cor
ner. She then turned back into the
house and hobbled up the steps The
rough tones of a mans voice greeted
her return.
l waited a few seconds and then
stepped out and examined the house.
1t was high and dilapidatcd in appear
ance. No lights were visible in the
front except in one window at the very
top. As l looked, Erure appeared be-
tween the window and the light, the
easement was softly opened, and q
girlish form gazed out from that sordid
prison upon the scudding clouds and
the young moonlight. / onGcavorcd to
read the features. The light was too
uncertain and the distance too great to
favored aad sordid beings. wrinAlcd
old hacs, bold-faced women. and hulk
ing, ill-fayored men iii blouses.
In the cloud-swept sky ] caught q
glimpse Of pale moon, and then sud-
denly. in clear twilight, there emerged
from Il gateway not fifty Yards anoad
Of me a figure which brought me to
standstill-a tall figure ef "a woman in
long dark robes. ! could Dot lie mis-
taken in that form. 1t was the las
iliskl / sought the shelter Of project
ing doorway, and watched.
She paused, went on a few PAGES,
and then suddenly turned and went
back to the house whence she emerged.
Sine disappeared IN the door way.
l quickly covered the Intervening
ground, and rcconnOitred. ] found
myself in front Of the gate Of a court
yard. On the left-hand side was q
dark doorway, mp three or four steep.
brick steps. = feeble light fickered in
a window beside the door. High wallis
with only few windows. bounded the
narrow yard. had scarcely q min
ute to make these observations wheR
the sound Of door opening and
voices caused me % draw back into
the shadow. One voice was the voice
new so weli-the voice Of Gfulia
Beaufoy. The other was the harsh.
allow of my identifying her; but l had
a sudden and great hope that il
was none other than my lost love. Tho
thought staggered me. l endeavored
to attract her attention. but at the first
sound the easement was quickly closed,